1. Choose Your Last Meal Wisely
The food will probably be very good wherever you are going, but it will be different from what you are used to eating. You will have cravings for food back home, so make sure for the last meal you have at home is something that you really like.
2. Pack Snacks From Home
Again, you will miss food from home. Things like peanut butter, popcorn, candy, etc. will not necessarily be easy to access. If you bring a couple small food items with you, it is nice to have every once in a while.
3. Keep Track Of Spending
Bring a notebook with you to keep track of how much you are spending. It will help you keep a budget and not go crazy with spending your money.
4. Pack Less But Pack Wisely
You will not need as many clothes as you think. So pack once and then take it all out, and only bring half of that. Also look into what the weather will be like during your stay. You will need to think about seasonal changes, but also bring a variety of clothes for any occasion you can think of.
5. Ask People About Their Experiences
One of the best ways to prepare yourself for the culture is to ask other people who have been there about their experiences. They might know something that can help you out before you leave or while you are there.
6. Read up on the culture
It is important to know about the culture you are headed to, so read up a little on the place you are going before you take off.
7. Read Up On The Limits Of Websites
You might not be able to access your favorite sites like Pandora or Hulu, depending where you go, so you might want to plan on creating accounts on different sites that allow you to use them in the country you are staying in.
8. Bring A Converter or Two
Unless you want a dead phone or laptop right away after your flight, it is a good idea to purchase an outlet converter before you leave for your trip. Your mom will be happy that you can call her then once you land, since your phone isn't dead.
9. Book Your Flights For Trips Early
PLAN! PLAN! PLAN! Decide where you want to travel during your time abroad, and start looking into flights before you leave. It is better to do this ahead of time, so that you can get cheaper flights and do not have to stress about planning trips while youāre there. The sooner your flights and trips are planned the better.
10. Bring A Book Bag
You might think against it at first, but you need a bag that is easy to travel with when you are only traveling for a couple of days. A book bag is perfect for this.
11. Figure Out The Best Way To Talk To People Back Home
Make sure that you have set ways that you can communicate with people, because international rates are not cheap. Finding the right apps to use like iMessages, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype are all common ways to talk to people. Just know what the best method to contact people is.
